Privacy Policy
Your privacy matters to us. Learn how Vihiga Times collects, uses, and protects your personal information in accordance with the Kenyan Data Protection Act 2019.
1. Introduction
Vihiga Times ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal data when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with our content.
We operate in full compliance with the Kenyan Data Protection Act 2019 and international best practices for data privacy.
By accessing or using Vihiga Times, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.
Data Controller: Vihiga Times Media House
Physical Address: Luanda, Vihiga County, Kenya
Registration: Registered under the Data Protection Act, Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
2. Information We Collect
We collect several types of information from and about users of our website:
2.1 Personal Information You Provide
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number when you subscribe to newsletters or contact us
- Profile Information: Username, profile picture if you create an account or comment on articles
- Communication Data: Records of your correspondence with us, including feedback and survey responses
- User Content: Comments, posts, or other content you submit to our platform
2.2 Automatically Collected Information
Device Information
IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and mobile network information
Usage Data
Pages visited, time spent, click patterns, referring websites, and feature interactions
Location Data
General geographic location based on IP address (not precise GPS coordinates)
Cookie Data
Session IDs, preferences, analytics identifiers, and advertising data
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Service Provision: To deliver news content, process subscriptions, and maintain your account
- Personalization: To customize content recommendations based on your reading preferences
- Communication: To send newsletters, respond to inquiries, and provide customer support
- Analytics: To understand how our services are used and improve user experience
- Security: To detect and prevent fraud, spam, and security incidents
- Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
- Marketing: To send promotional materials (only with your explicit consent)
Important: We will never sell your personal data to third parties. Any data sharing is strictly limited to the purposes described in this policy.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
Under the Kenyan Data Protection Act 2019, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:
| Legal Basis | Application |
|---|---|
| Consent | Newsletter subscriptions, marketing communications, optional cookies, and user-generated content |
| Contract | Providing services you've requested, processing payments, and fulfilling our terms of service |
| Legal Obligation | Complying with court orders, regulatory requirements, and data retention laws |
| Legitimate Interest | Website security, fraud prevention, analytics, and improving our services |
| Vital Interests | Protecting your life or physical safety in emergency situations |
5. Data Sharing and Third Parties
We may share your personal data with the following categories of recipients:
5.1 Service Providers
- Hosting & Infrastructure: Cloud service providers for website hosting and data storage
- Analytics: Google Analytics for website traffic analysis (anonymized data)
- Email Services: Mailchimp or similar for newsletter delivery
- Payment Processors: If applicable, for subscription payments
5.2 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court orders, law enforcement agencies).
5.3 Business Transfers
If Vihiga Times is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your personal data may be transferred. We will provide notice before your personal data is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
International Transfers: When we transfer data outside Kenya, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with the Data Protection Act, including Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).
6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our website and hold certain information. For detailed information about the cookies we use and how to manage them, please see our Cookie Policy.
6.1 Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function (e.g., session management, security)
- Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
- Analytical Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website
- Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements (only with consent)
You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.
7. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:
Encryption
SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission (HTTPS)
Access Control
Role-based access controls and multi-factor authentication
Regular Audits
Security assessments and penetration testing
Staff Training
Data protection training for all employees
Despite these measures, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which we collected it, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
Retention Periods:
| Data Type | Retention Period | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Account Information | Duration of account + 2 years | Legal obligations, fraud prevention |
| Newsletter Subscriptions | Until unsubscribed + 1 year | Proof of consent, re-engagement |
| Comments & User Content | Indefinite (until deletion requested) | Public record, community value |
| Server Logs | 90 days | Security monitoring, debugging |
| Analytics Data | 26 months | Trend analysis, service improvement |
9. Your Data Protection Rights
Under the Kenyan Data Protection Act 2019, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
| Right | Description | How to Exercise |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Request copies of your personal data | Email privacy@vihigatimes.co.ke with subject "Data Access Request" |
| Rectification | Correct inaccurate or incomplete data | Update via account settings or contact us directly |
| Erasure | Request deletion of your data ("Right to be Forgotten") | Email privacy@vihigatimes.co.ke with subject "Deletion Request" |
| Restriction | Limit how we use your data | Contact us to specify processing restrictions |
| Portability | Receive data in structured, machine-readable format | Request via email; we provide JSON or CSV format |
| Objection | Object to processing based on legitimate interests | Email with specific objection details |
| Withdraw Consent | Revoke previously given consent | Use unsubscribe links or contact us directly |
Response Time: We will respond to all data subject requests within 30 days as required by law. Complex requests may require additional time, which we will communicate to you.
Complaints: If you are unsatisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in Kenya.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data protection rights, or have concerns about how we handle your data, please contact us:
Data Protection Officer
vihigatimes038@gmail.comPhysical Address
Vihiga Times Media House
MBALE, Vihiga County
Kenya, 50300
Phone
+254 769882553Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EAT